Multi-institutional studies of welfare have proven to be valuable in zoos but are hampered by limited sample sizes and difficulty in evaluating more than just a few welfare indicators. To more clearly understand how interactions of husbandry factors influence the interrelationships among welfare outcomes, epidemiological approaches are needed as well ...

In ultrasound contrast imaging, many techniques based on multiple transmissions have been proposed to increase the contrast-to-tissue ratio (CTR). They are generally based on the response of static scatterers inside the imaged region. However, scatterer motion, for example in blood vessels, has an inevitable influence on multi-pulse techniques, which can ...

A pair of 19-year-old female identical twins was referred to our hospital with progressive visual loss. They exhibited bilateral chorioretinal atrophy involving the midperiphery on fundoscopy and fluorescein angiography. Bilateral visual field constriction was noted on dynamic Goldmann perimetry, and a markedly impaired response was observed on both photopic and ...

There exists a wide range of shoulder instabilities, from subtle subluxations (as seen in overhead athletes) to gross instability. An appropriate rehabilitation program plays a vital role in the successful outcome following an episode of shoulder instability. Nonoperative rehabilitation is often implemented for patients diagnosed with various shoulder instabilities. Based ...

Shoulder instability in the in-season athlete is a common and particularly vexing issue for both the athlete and the treating physician. Both anterior and posterior instability may cause significant pain and disability and interfere with the athlete's ability to complete the season at their desired level. Many athletes can be ...

The heterogeneous reaction of OH radicals with sub-micron unsaturated fatty acid particles in the presence of H2O2 and O2 is studied to explore how surface OH addition reactions initiate chain reactions that rapidly transform the chemical composition of an organic particle. In the presence of 20.7 ppm [H2O2] in a ...

A novel mechanism for active directional beaming by mechanical actuation of double-sided plasmonic surface gratings is proposed. It is shown that the asymmetric mechanical actuation of optimally designed plasmonic surface gratings surrounding a subwavelength metal slit can produce a steerable off-axis beaming effect. The controllability of the beam direction provides ...

As cancer treatment shifts from IV to oral chemotherapy, patients have less contact with nurses and face the increased responsibility of maintaining their own health care. The authors conducted focus group interviews with 18 oncology nurses using the grounded theory approach to explore the nurses' perceptions of current practices and ...

Amyloid is identified microscopically as an amorphous extracellular hyaline material that exhibits "apple-green" birefringence with Congo red stains. Amyloid is not a chemically distinct entity, and currently available molecular methods are capable of identifying over 20 amyloidogenic precursor proteins. Some of the more common diseases associated with amyloidosis include plasma ...

This report describes limb-sparing surgery in a 35 kg, six-year-old Hungarian Vizsla with a distal radial lytic bone lesion. Preoperative biopsy had suggested a bone cyst, however histopathology on the excised bone segment was indicative of an osteosarcoma. Following excision of the tumour, the bone defect was filled with a ...

Many algae, particularly microalgae, possess a sophisticated light-sensing system including photoreceptors and light-modulated signaling pathways to sense environmental information and secure the survival in a rapidly changing environment. Over the last couple of years, the multifaceted world of algal photobiology has enriched our understanding of the light absorption mechanisms and ...

In 2012, an expert panel composed of presidents of each of the societies, the European Chapter of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (IFSO-EC), and of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), as well as of the chair of EASO Obesity Management Task Force (EASO ...

The landscape of treatment for advanced/metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has advanced significantly in the last decade and continues to evolve with the approval of new drugs targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Currently available oral VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitors ...

Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is one of the most spoilage-causing bacteria in fruit juices. Control of A. acidoterrestris in fruit juices by bificin C6165 (Pei et al. in J Appl Microbiol 114(5):1273-1284, 2013), a bacteriocin produced by Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis CICC 6165, was described in this study. Activity spectrum of bificin ...

Fractures of the scaphoid are the most common surgically treated carpal fracture, and early diagnosis is critical to minimize complications including osteonecrosis. If the initial radiographs after the injury are inconclusive, early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides an immediate diagnosis to allow for proper management. This has been shown to ...

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease. Different pathogenetic mechanisms, including the accumulation of apoptotic keratinocytes in CLE, have been reported. Therefore, we investigated whether CLE and other inflammatory skin diseases differ with regard to the epidermal expression of molecules that are crucial for the initiation and regulation ...

Bioprinting is a recent development in tissue engineering, which applies rapid prototyping techniques to generate complex living tissues. Typically, cell-containing hydrogels are dispensed layer-by-layer according to a computer-generated three-dimensional model. The lack of mechanical stability of printed hydrogels hinders the fabrication of high aspect ratio constructs. Here we present submerged ...

Psoriasis is an autoimmune, chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by epidermal hyperplasia, proliferation of blood vessels, and infiltration of leukocytes in dermis and epidermis. Several immunosuppressants such as methotrexate (MXT) and cyclosporine are used but they are associated with adverse effects due to down regulation of immune system. Numerous approaches ...

Whether thyroidectomy for metastases to the thyroid is associated with a survival benefit remains debatable; in general, palliation and disease control are accepted goals in this setting. We evaluated the clinical features and overall survival of patients with thyroid metastasis treated by thyroid resection or nonoperatively. This retrospective analysis included ...

Park et al. performed a retrospective analysis of a large hemodialysis cohort to describe the relationship between pre- to postdialysis changes in BP and mortality. Their study demonstrated adverse outcomes associated both with large decreases and with any increase in blood pressure pre- to postdialysis. Although limitations exist in this ...

A FRET ratiometric fluorescent probe enabling a fast and highly sensitive response to OP nerve agent mimic DCP within 1 min and with as low as 0.17 ppm concentration detection limit has been developed. Moreover, the probe exhibits noticeable color changes under UV light and even with the naked eye. ...

The aim of the present study was to analyze the anatomical three-dimensional (3D) characteristics of masseter muscle in growing subjects with different vertical patterns by using an ultrasound (US) method. The sample comprised 60 prepuberal subjects (33 males, 27 females) with a mean age of 11.5 ± 1.6 years with ...

We report on the quantitative evidence of simultaneous amplified spontaneous emission from the AlGaInAs/InAs/InP-based quantum-well (Qwell) and quantum-dashes (Qdash) in a multistack dash-in-an-asymmetric-well superluminescent diode heterostructure. As a result, an emission bandwidth (full width at half-maximum) of >700 nm is achieved, covering entire O-E-S-C-L-U communication bands, and a maximum continuous wave ...

Altruism often is expressed by patients with advanced cancer as a coping mechanism and a motivational factor for participation in clinical trials. Those who participate develop a sense of hope that their life is a contribution, which may continue to live beyond their deaths.

To identify potential regulators of normal human melanocyte behaviour, we have developed an in vitro human melanocyte migration assay, using the optically accessible, real-time cell motility assay device TAXIScan. Coating of the glass surface with an extracellular matrix that served as scaffolding molecule was essential to demonstrate efficient melanocyte migration. ...

Tactile sensing is widely used in human-computer interfaces. However, mechanical integration of touch technologies is often perceived as difficult by engineers because it often limits the freedom of style or form factor requested by designers. Recent work in active ultrasonic touch technologies has made it possible to transform thin glass ...

This retrospective observational case series of fifty-one consecutive patients referred to the eye clinic with acute-stage Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) from 1995 to 2011 examines the effect of early treatment with a systemic corticosteroid or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) on the ocular outcomes in patients with SJS ...

Multiple guidelines are often available to inform practice in complex interventions. Guidance implementation may be facilitated if it is tailored to particular clinical issues and contexts. It should also aim to specify all elements of interventions that may mediate and modify effectiveness, including both their content and delivery. We conducted ...

Plant defense against disease is a complex multistage system involving initial recognition of the invading pathogen, signal transduction and activation of specialized genes. An important role in pathogen deterrence belongs to so-called plant defense peptides, small polypeptide molecules that present antimicrobial properties. Using multidimensional liquid chromatography, we isolated a novel ...

Current models for targeted-tracking are discussed and shown to be inadequate as a means of understanding the combined task of tracking, as in the Drury's paradigm, and having a final target to be aimed at, as in the Fitts' paradigm. It is shown that the task has to be split ...

The neonicotinoids have recently been identified as a potential contributing factor to the sudden decline in adult honeybee population, commonly known as colony collapse disorder (CCD). To protect the health of honeybees and other pollinators, a new, simple, and sensitive liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method was developed and validated ...

Background: This study aims at investigating ischaemic stroke therapy in Germany by using secondary data. The focus lies on the performance of thrombolysis.Methods: Statutory quality report data for 2010 were obtained. All hospitals (n = 1302) treating patients suffering from an ischaemic stroke either on a neurological, internal, geriatric or ...

After endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) store depletion, Orai channels in the plasma membrane (PM) are activated directly by ER-resident STIM proteins to form the Ca(2+)-selective Ca(2+) release-activated Ca(2+) (CRAC) channel. However, in the absence of Ca(2+) store depletion and STIM interaction, the mammalian homologue Orai3 can be activated by 2-aminoethyl ...

Identification of the Adamkiewicz artery (AKA) using CT angiography (CTA) is crucial in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) or aortic dissection (AD). The purpose of this study was to compare the AKA detection rate of intravenous injection with a 64-slice MDCT (IV64) versus a 16-slice MDCT (IV16) as well ...

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a rare genetic disorder. The syndrome presents with severe purulent conjunctivitis, stomatitis with mucosal necrosis, and purpuric macules. This syndrome is associated with hypersensitive reaction usually stimulated by infection, vaccination, systemic diseases, physical agents, foods or drugs. However, only few cases reported can be related to ...

In a technological era dominated by a constant barrage of medical and nonmedical information, a challenge for the clinical neurologist and trainees is maintaining quick and efficient access to high-yield, clinically relevant information.

Pancreatitis, whether acute or chronic, can lead to a plethora of complications, such as fluid collections, pseudocysts, fistulas, and necrosis, all of which are secondary to leakage of secretions from the pancreatic ductal system. Partial and side branch duct disruptions can be managed successfully by transpapillary pancreatic duct stent placement, ...

Currently, adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are being evaluated for a wide variety of therapeutic approaches. It has been suggested that MSCs possess regenerative properties when implanted or injected into damaged tissue. However, the efficacy of MSCs in several of the proposed treatments is still controversial. To further explore the ...

The preoperative ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes (NLR) has been proposed as a marker of poor outcome in patients having a resection for colorectal cancer (CRC). This study investigated the association between NLR and overall survival, cancer-specific survival and recurrent cancer in patients who had a potentially curative resection for ...

Recent reports suggest the association of human papilloma virus (HPV) with retinoblastoma. This study was performed to elucidate whether HPV infection is related to retinoblastoma among Koreans. A total of 54 cases diagnosed with retinoblastoma were enrolled from Seoul National University Children's Hospital and Seoul Metropolitan Government-Seoul National University Boramae ...

Glenohumeral instability in pediatric and adolescent patients covers a wide range of disease, from traumatic anterior instability to multidirectional instability. The rates of recurrent instability are high. Conservative and operative treatment options have shown variable success. Given the high risk of recurrent instability, young, active patients who seek to return ...

Optical vortices are always created or annihilated as vortex dipoles-pairs with opposite topological charge. Here a quantity, consisting of the transverse first and second derivatives of the optical field, is derived with which one can distinguish between vortex dipole annihilation and creation events. Analytical and numerical examples are provided as ...

Experimental measurements of the nonplanar phase of scalar optical beams is achieved using polarization singularities and Stokes parameters. The product of beam intensity and its phase gradient is calculated to get the Poynting vector distribution in the beam cross section. Using these we propose a scheme and experimentally obtain generic ...

An efficient method to tune the spatial coherence of a degenerate laser over a broad range with minimum variation in the total output power is presented. It is based on varying the diameter of a spatial filter inside the laser cavity. The number of lasing modes supported by the degenerate ...

An efficient compact Yb:Y<sub>3</sub>Sc<sub>1.5</sub>Ga<sub>3.5</sub>O<sub>12</sub> garnet crystal laser actively Q-switched with an acousto-optic modulator is demonstrated, producing stable pulses at repetition rates ranging from 1 to 30 kHz. With 10.8 W of pump power absorbed, an average output power of 3.1 W at 1025.7 nm is generated at pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz, with a ...